A novel heavy on history and all the better for it. Set a few years after the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, after the Battle of Culloden and set in Inverness. The book invokes the continuing troubled times, the Jacobites stinging from defeat but still with passion for the Stuart cause, the British Hanoverians trying to keep the peace in some cases and outwardly gloating in others. Iain MacGillivray is caught in the middle - Jacobite, survivor of Culloden but badly scarred and trying to earn a peaceful living selling books. A man is murdered in his shop and a white cockade left on the body, a symbol of the Jacobites. Dangerous times continue - spies, traitor and treachery, family loyalty, some wonderful dowger-duchess gossips and the occasional modest, or not so, young lady. Highly enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Being an ardent fan of Shona McLeans' amazing books- Alexander Seaton series and Damien Seeker series, I waited with great anticipation for her new book The Bookseller of Inverness. As usual this author creates a wonderful atmosphere in which the characters live. Iain McGillivray is a former soldier fighting for the Jacobite cause, injured both mentally and physically from the famed Battle of Culloden, we become involved in his life six years later. What follows is an exciting, suspenseful game of cat and mouse between the English Redcoats and those still holding on to the hope that Bonnie Prince Charlie will ascend the throne.
This is a superbly researched and written story, McClean has the ability to paint pictures with her prose and we are immersed in 16th Century Inverness. I am delighted to recommend this book and offer grateful thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and especially S J McClean for a wonderful read.

Ex Jacobite soldier Iain MacGillivray is trying to live a peaceful life, that is until he discovers a customer, murdered in his bookshop, and lying next to the murder weapon is a white cockade. Iain is pulled into a web of deceit and a past he can't forget.
This is a fabulous historical fiction set in Inverness six years after the battle of Culloden.
A captivating, well paced, well researched story full of intrigue and treachery. There's some great characters, real and fictional. I really liked Donald Mór, his cat Morag, and the Grande Dames.
I was nearly in tears at the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC.

After The Seeker historical series, the award winning SG MacLean returns with this well researched piece of historical fiction set in Inverness focusing on the Jacobite movement after the crushing defeat at the 1746 Battle of Culloden. It is where Iain MacGillivray is left for dead on Drumossie Moor, next to the dead body of his beloved cousin, Laclan. Traumatised and scarred, his face brutally slashed, he makes it out alive with the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades by feigning death. Six years later in 1752, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a very different and quiet life, he is no longer the outgoing man he used to be, and is working as a bookseller in Inverness, with his assistant Richard Dempster, and the talented bookbinder, Donald Mor.

Amongst several of his regular customers, there is a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, desperately searching his collection, refusing to say what he wants and only leaving when Iain closes for the night. When Ian returns to the bookshop the following morning, there is the shocking sight of the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him, a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. In a town where the spirit of Jacobite rebellion is far from dead, where allegience to the Stuart cause often comes before family, Ian soon finds himself in danger and mired in a web of deceit, death and intrigue. He looks for a missing book of forbidden names bought as part of the book collection owned by the Old Fox, Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, that appears to hold the answer why certain people are being found dead.

MacLean atmospherically evokes this historical period with skill, immersing the reader in the culture, politics and the complex community loyalties and the marvellous Highland location of Inverness. The highlight for me were the stellar characters the author created, such as Ian, his grandmother, Mairi and the Grandes Dames, Hector, Donald, Ishbel MacLeod, the confectioner, and young Tormod, who effortlessly steals the show. This is an enthralling and riveting historical read, a blend of fact and fiction, that will likely appeal to those interested in Scottish history and the repercussions of the Battle of Culloden. I am not sure if this is the first in a series, but I hope it is as I loved so many of the characters here. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A good dollop of history and with it the everyday brutality that was life for many. The book is a mystery, a murder to be solved, yet this murder digs up so much of the past and secrets. The wounds that the investigation into the dead body and the book of traitor names open up are deep and painful and told beautifully. The slow romance about the book shop is just perfect.

An enthralling mystery set in Scotland six years after the battle of Culloden.
There is much to enjoy in this book.It is rich in historical fact ,the characters are vividly described whilst the action keeps the reader engaged and involved. I enjoyed learning about the different factions and I always enjoy plots that start in a book shop!
Thank you for this arc

As I find Scottish History of interest, in particular around the time of the 1745 rebellion, this was a book I looked forward to reading, despite it being a work of fiction.
There was no disappointment, as it was a most enjoyable read, strong characters and plot line, making hope for a follow up of some description.
Recommend.

I have been eyeing this arc, especially because I’m alway so intrigued about Scottish history since being a fan of Diana Gabaldon works.
Firstly this book did not disappoint…
This was an amazing historical fiction that captivated me right from the start and was a superb well paced tale that also managed to keep me wanting to know more.
Definitely a page turner!

S.G MacLean writing paints to life the story in front of you and does an exceptional job with weaving facts and fiction together creating a truly memorable story.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this fine piece of work.

The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G MacLean

gripping historical thriller set in Inverness in the wake of the 1746 battle of Culloden from twice CWA award-winning author S. G. MacLean. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor.

After Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drumossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.

Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he's searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.

The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him - a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for - and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.
A fabulous read from this author , quite history laden but that was right up my street , and the storyline brought it alive for me . Great character in Iain and it was a brilliant interwoven , full of intrigue plot to keep me gripped til the last page. Wonderful .

A new hero for fans of historical fiction everywhere.

Six years on from Culloden, which he survived by pretending to be dead while the Redcoats stabbed the corpses of his Jacobite comrades, Iain MacGillivray is now a bookkeeper in Inverness. The clan chiefs have been run out of town and the Highlands are now ruled by the British. When Iain notices a stranger searching his shelves for a particular set of books, he feels something is wrong. The next morning when he opens the shop and finds the stranger dead with his throat cut, he knows something is wrong.

And with that, the story launches into a fast moving adventure full of deceit, hatred, love and discovery. Iain learns about his family, his history and possibly his future. Culloden may be in the past, but hatred and rebellion still live in the hearts of Scots and Royalists. Schemes are still being hatched and plans laid to restore the rightful person to the throne (depending which side you're on).

Many of Shona MacLean's fans, like me, were sad to learn that she had moved on from the Alexander Seaton and Damian Seeker books and worried about what would come next.

Readers, we worried needlessly.

"The Bookseller of Inverness" is a belter of a story. Although heavy with historical fact, the book is not weighed down by this. The fact and fiction are blended seamlessly, and the sights and smells of 17th century Inverness are painted in detail. We have a cast of well-fleshed out characters, from dowager mothers-in-law, gossiping busybodies, shy maidens and fearless spies. Iain is a fine hero, reluctant, but driven and committed to the cause he fought for years ago. For those familiar with Inverness, there are place names dropped here and there, which is always nice. You might even recognise his bookshop.

The book will appeal to fans of SG MacLean, as well as Andrew Taylor, Diana Gabaldon and CJ Sansom. I thoroughly enjoyed my Netgalley review copy and will definitely be in the queue for a proper copy when it's released. Definitely recommended.